Miramar Resident Shocked Attic Repairs Led To Injury

MIRAMAR -- A 27-year-old man suffered severe electrical shock Tuesday while doing home repair work, only 11 days after another man died doing similar work in a home here.

Eugene Pelusi was crawling through an attic duct doing repair work Tuesday morning when his arm touched a live wire in a home in the 2700 block of Sabal Palm Drive, said Miramar Fire/Rescue Lt. James Schendel.

Pelusi was in stable condition at Memorial Hospital in Hollywood after being admitted for observation, said hospital spokeswoman Rona Levitt.

Another man, college student Carl Fitzergald, 21, was killed in a similar accident June 13 while working on wiring in his parents` attic in the 7800 block of Orleans Street, Schendel said.

Both accidents occurred because the men neglected to turn off the electricity before starting work, he said.

The incident Tuesday forced Pelusi`s heart into a near-fatal rhythm and caused third-degree burns on one arm, Schendel said.

``He must have sustained that shock for about 30 seconds,`` Schendel said. ``Fortunately, someone else was in the building to pull the circuit breaker and call us.``

Schendel said he was surprised by the similarities in the two cases. He said many people do home repair projects during the summer, although it is not the best time to do so.

``Most wiring conduit runs through crawl spaces in the attic and there`s very little space,`` he said. ``It`s hot and dark and cramped up there. Electricity has got to be respected.``